Insulated perch for preventing bird trouble in connection with electrical transmission lines



INSULATED PERCH FdR PREVENTING BIRD TROUBLE IN CONNECTION WITH ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES Filed Aug. 11, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Sept 25, 1928. 1,685,663

A. O. AUSTIN INSULATED PERCH FOR PREVENTING BIRD TRGUBLE IN CONNECTION WITH ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES Filed Aug. 11, 1924 2 Sheets-Shut 2 INVENTOR M Q Wm 81 A I'TORNEY Patented. Sept. 25, 192 8 UNITED, STATES ARTHUR 0. AUSTIK, or BA BRR'romomo, AssIeRoR; BY 'MRsNR ASSIGNMENTS, T0,.

PATENT OFFICE. j

* THE omo BRAss COMPANY," or MANSFIELD, 01110, A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

INSULATED PERCH FOR PREVENTING BIRD TROUBLE IN CONNECTION WITH ELECTRI- CAL TRANSMISSION LINES.

Application filed August 1 1, 1924. Serial No. 731,505.

This invention relates to means for pre venting the interference with electrical transmission lines by birds. The invention has for its object the provision of means which will tend to prevent birds from aligl ting upon the supporting structure for transmiss on line in position to interfere with the operation of the line. v

The invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangementof parts shown in the, accompanying drawings and described in the following specification and it more particularly pointed out in the, appending claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is an elevationo'fi a portion of a supporting tower tor a high potential line having-one embodiment ofthe present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view Fig. 1. i v

In transmission looking from the left in either to rest or to eat. Where the birds alight directly over the line, there is a pos g sibility of largely shunting the insulator string, either due to droppings or long p eces of whatthey are eating droppingdown pastv 'a few largeinsulator member s help nas terially in preventing a direct path to ground between the conductor and tower alongside of the insulator. In other cases, however, it may be possible to establish a path to oneside of the string which will permit anarc to ground p It is the object of this invention toel ii nis. nate this diflicultyas far as possible. Relerence to Fig. 1 will show one means of preventing a short as aboveoutlginedQ Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a transmission tower 1-0 with a suspension insulator string 11 sup: porting a conductor 12. Perches 13. and 1.4 are supported by an insulator 15 "mounted on the top of the tower, The perch-may be above or to one side of the tower, but the perches. 13' and 14 should preferably extend in the general direction of the conductor.

lines it frequently happens that birds alight on the transmission towers,

portiono-f the perch so'that the bird will alight well out from the tower.

of the bird in many cases. If, however, the

resting placeof the bird is insulated and.

does not constitute a ground, a power are may be prevented from picking up. If the perch is insulated, a shock due to charging current which the bird receives in alighting or in breaking contact with the porch will be less severe, which may be an advantage. Since the short is likely to be of momentary duration only, it is not necessary that a large insulator, be used "for insulating the perch. A perch located at a considerable height above the tower will tend. to give relief, but inthis case there is always a danger of the bird alighting lower down and it may be a very difficult matter topreventa short from drop;

pings if the bird is directly over the insulator or to. the side of the insulator from which, the wind is blowing. I

Birds frequently carryJnat-enal for nests or other purposes which will tend to causea short. 'Where the rest ngplace of thebird is nsulated, however, the small charging current will usually do little or no. damage increased tending to cause discharge and, in

addition, there maybe trouble between the edge of the canopy or screen audthe conductor. -The' insulated perchhas the advantage of affecting the field about the-conductor little, if any, and reduces the tendency to cause a short even though the distance between the perchand conductor may be relatively small.

To; obviate the dangerot wind: blowing droppingsor material carried to the perch into. the string, it is advisable to lower the perch as much as possible without causing trouble. Owing to the insulation provided by the insulator, the distance between the perch and the conductor may be less than the length of the insulator string without causing any trouble under normal conditions. Under these conditions, the charging current when alighting or leaving will tend to tlrighten the birds away so that there will be little tendency to use the towers as resting places.

Fig. 2 shows the same arrangement as in Fig. 1 but in the direction of the line. The insulator on one phase only is shown but other phases may be treated in the same way. One or a number of insulated perches may be provided for the tower and the insulated perch may extend as a loop around the top of the tower and to each side in "the direction of the line.

In order to make the perches effective, it is advisable to so construct the tower-or install means which will make it dillicult or imposible for the bird to alight on other portions of the tower other than the insulated perch. In Fig. 2 one means of preventing the bird from alighting on other portions of the tower is shown. In this case, spikes or points 17 are placed along the upper surfaces or clamped around the tower member so as to interfere with the bird alighting. Other means may be provided which will prevent large birds from alighting such as stringing small wires or chains a few inches above the tower mem her or a perch or rest which will tilt easily may be used such as the device shown in I ig.

2. A member 18 is placed on trunnions 19 so that the rest is above the point of support. A counter weight 20 is just sutliciently heavy to hold the rest in vertical position. hen a large bird alights on a rest of this kind it will tilt and tend to throw him off. The rest may be provided with spikes or points 21 as an additional protection.

The object of placing baflles or obstructions on the upper members of the tower is to cause birds to roost on the especially provided perches. If it is possible to keep birds from alighting on the tower the insulated perch would, of course, not be necessary. Unless some rest, however, is provided an occasional bird may roost or carry something into the tower and attempt to alight which may cause an interruption.

In many cases a combination of obstructing means in connection with the perch should therefore give best results. lVhere the perch is low as in 14 there would be little chance for bird droppings being blown entirely over the string, whereas there might be a considerable danger in the use of higher perches.

It is not necessary that the perch be insulated if the perch is itself an insulating member such as a fibre tube or a piece of dry or impregnated wood. In the case of a piece of wood or tube, however, it would usually be advisable to place obstructions above the insulator. The wood arm may, of course, be further insulated by being mounted on an insulator similar to 15.

I claim 1. The combination with a support of an insulator thereon, a conductor carried by said insulator, means on the parts of said support disposed above said insulator for discouraging birds from perching thereon and a bird perch displaced horizontally from said insulater to attract birds away from the immediate vicinity of said insulator.

2. The cmnbination with a support of a conductor carried thereby, means for insulating said conductor from said support, means on said support above said insulating means for preventing birds from perching at that location and an insulated perch for birds displaced horizontally from said insulating means.

3. The combination with a supporting structure for high potential transmission lines, of an insulator string suspended from said structure and spikes disposed above said string for preventing birds from alighting on said structure in position to interfere with the insulators of said string by dropping or suspending matter in position to form a short for the insulators of said string.

at. The combination with a supporting structure of an insulator thereon, a conductor carried by said insulator, means on said structure for preventing birds from alighting thereon above said insulator in position to drop or suspend matter in position to form a short for said insulator and a perch carried by said support in horizontally displaced relation to said insulator, said perch being insulated from said structure and conductor.

5. The combination with a support of an insulator thereon, a conductor carried by said insulator, spikes on said support in the immediate vicinity above said insulator and a perch for birds insulated from said support and offset horizontally relative to said insulator.

6. The combination with a support of an insulator thereon, a conductor carried bysaid insulator and a device on said support above said insulator, arranged to tip when a bird alights thereon to cause said bird to leave said location.

7. The combination with a support of an insulator thereon, a conductor carried by said insulator and means for preventing birds from perching on said support above said insulator, said means comprising amember arranged to tip under the weight of a bird and projecting spikes to interfere with alighting of birds.

8. The combination with a supporting structure of a conductor, insulating means for supporting said conductor on said structure, means for preventing birds from alighting on said structure above said insulating means comprising a tilting member and spikes, and an insulated perch displaced horizontally relative to said insulating means.

9. The combination with an insulator for a high potential conductor of a bird perch extending laterally from said insulator, the portion of said perch nearest said insulator being arranged to prevent birds from resting thereon.

10. The combination with an insulator for of a bird perch extending laterally from said. insulator, said perch having a laterally extending portion thereof adjacent said insulator arranged other portion more remote from said insulator arranged for the support of birds.

11. Thecombination with an insulator for a, high potential conductor, extending laterally therefrom, said perch having a sloping portion adjacent said insulator and a substantially horizontal more re- I mote portion.

12. The eombination with an insulator for a high potential conductor of a bird perch extending laterally "therefrom, said perch having projecting spikes thereon adjacent said insulator While a portion thereof more remote from said insulator is free from said spikes.

13. The combination with a supporting to prevent birds from restingthereon and anof a bird. perch structure of a string of insulators suspended therefrom, a conductor carried by said string, an insulator'disposed above said string and a perch carried by said insulator, said perch comprising means vtor preventing birds from resting thereon-adj acent said insulator but arranged for the support of birds at points more remote therefrom.

14. The combination with a supporting structure of an insulator string suspended therefrom, a conductor line carried by said string, and a perch for birds carried by said support and insulated therefrom said perch being arranged in substantially the vertical.

plane of said conductor.

15. The combination with a support of an insulator string suspended therefrom, a conductor carried by said string, an insulator mounted on said support above said string, a porch. carried by said insulator and extending therefrom substantially in the vertical plane of said conductor and means for preventing birds from resting on said support and perch adjacent said string but permitting them to rest on said perch at points more remote from said string. I e

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 4th day of .August, A. 1.7.1924.

ARTHUR o. AUSTIN. 

